Gun sights



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AWL 5*? KHUM 33-233. UR 2,836,896 SR V Jl me 3, 1958 c, wo v o 2,836,896

GUN SIGHTS Filed July 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WIT,

IN V EN TOR.

CHAQH H wbwtujon hewfmw/ United States Patent GUN SIGHTS Charles H. Wolverton, Montcalm, Mich.

Application July 7, 1953, Serial No. 366,587

1 Claim. (CI. 33-52) My invention relates to firearm sights and more particularly to sights adapted for use on shotguns.

In hunting certain species of game, such as pheasant, partridge, rabbits or wild waterfowl, shots are afforded a sporstman of a moving target. Such game is generally hunted with a shotgun that, upon being fired, discharges a number of shot that as they leave the end of the shotgun barrel spread to form a pattern of shot over an area. However, despite the fact the shotgun fires a charge that is particularly adapted to bring down moving game many sportsmen experience difficulty in hitting such game. Numerous shots, perhaps the majority, are at game that breaks rapidly from cover either to fly or run away. In the case of, for example, partridge, the sudden flushing of the bird and its rapid movement that will quickly carry it out of range prompts a sportsman to raise his gun and fire with a minimum of delay. In so doing, it has been my observation and experience that a sportsman will, in his haste, frequently fail to position the gun barrel and his eye, one relative to the other, to establish a line of sight down and along the barrel to the target, but instead will sight over the end of the barrel at the target, resulting in overshooting and a miss.

A main object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, easily attached sight for a shotgun which sight will facilitate accurate aiming of the gun, particularly at a moving target.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sight for a shotgun which sight will assist one using the gun in establishing a correct line of sight down and along the barrel of the gun to the target.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sight for a shotgun which sight will discourage sighting over the end of the barrel of the gun at a target instead of down and along the barrel.

A still further object is to provide a sight for a shotgun which will furnish a field of sight for positioning a target to which the eye will be instinctively attracted, proper positioning of the eye relative to said field causing a correct line of sight to be established down and along the barrel of the gun to the target.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

Reference should now be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a side view of a sight embodying my invention adapted for use on a shotgun of the pump type;

Figure 2 is an end view of the sight shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the sight shown in Figure 1 in place on a shotgun of the pump type;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of a sight embodying my invention of construction generally similar to that of Figure 1 but showing a modified form of means for securing the sight in place on a shotgun of the pump type;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of a sight embodying my invention adapted for use on a shotgun of the double barreled yp Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a side view of a sight embodying my invention of construction generally similar to that of Figure 7 but showing a modified form of means for securing the sight in place on a shotgun of the double barreled type;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 to 4, the sight 10 is preferably formed of sheet spring steel to provide a top wall 11 and side walls 12 depending downwardly from the top wall. Each side wall has a bottom edge 13, an upwardly extending rear edge 14 and an upwardly extending front edge 15. Rear edge 14 is longer than front edge 15, said edges being substantially parallel one to the other. Top wall 11 slopes downwardly from its juncture with rear edge 14 to its juncture with front edge 15, the vertical distance between bottom edge 13 and top wall 11 being greater at the rear than at the front of the sight. Side walls 12 of the sight have a slight inward slope from top to bottom and the lower portions thereof are so spaced apart that when the sight is placed on a gun a spring gripping action will be exerted on the gun by said side walls.

Near the bottom edge of each side wall 12 and on the inner side of said side walls there are provided two suction cups 16 and 17, one cup 16 being located adjacent the rear edge of the sight and the other 17 being located adjacent the forward edge of the sight. Threaded members 18 secured to each cup pass through holes in the side walls 12 of the sight, the outer ends of said threaded members being engaged by nuts 19 to hold the cups in position.

A hole is provided in the top wall 11 of the sight, adjacent the front edge and on the vertical centerline thereof. A bolt 20 passes through a nut 21 on the upper side of top wall 11, through the hole in said top wall and through a nut 22 on the bottom side of the top wall.

At the rear of the sight there is provided an inverted U-shaped member 23 forming a rest plate the ends 24 of which have holes therein through which threaded members 18 pass. The top portion 25 of the rest plate is curved to rest upon the top of the gun receiver.

As may be seen in Figure 1 the vertical distance between the juncture of rear edge 14 and top wall 11, and the top portion 25 of rest plate 23 is greater than the vertical distance between the juncture of front edge 15 and top wall 11, and the lower end of bolt 20.

In placing the embodiment of my sight 10 shown in Figures 1 to 4 on a gun 30 the side walls 12 of the sight are spread slightly as necessary to permit the receiver 31 of the gun 30 to be received between the side walls. The sight is moved down onto the receiver 31 until the top portion 25 of rest plate 23 and the lower end of bolt 20 both come to rest on top of the receiver, the top wall 11 of the sight, as so disposed, being inclined toward the front of the gun (Figure 3). The lower portions of the side walls adjacent the suction cups 16 and 17 are then pressed inwardly to compress the suction cups against the receiver 31, the combined holding force exerted by the cups and the spring action of the sloping side walls securing the sight firmly in place.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a sight of the same general construction as the sight shown in Figures 1 and 4 but having a modified form of means for mounting the sight on a shotgun of the pump type. This sight 40 comprises a top wall 41 and substantially parallel side walls 42 depending downwardly from the top wall. The rear edge 43 of each side wall is substantially parallel to and longer than its front edge 44. The top wall 41 slopes downwardly from rear edge 43 to front edge 44, the vertical distance between top wall 41 and the bottom edge 45 of the side walls being greater at the rear than at the front of the sight.

On each side wall 42 adjacent the juncture of rear edge 43 and bottom edge 45 a machine screw 46 is provided the threaded end of which passes through a hole in the side wall, the undersurface of the head of the screw abutting the outer surface of the side wall. Adjacent the juncture of the front edge 44 and the bottom edge 45 of each side wall there is provided a slot 47 forming an arc of a circle having as its center machine screw 46. Two machine screws 48 are provided, the threaded end of one of which passes through slot 47 in each side wall, the width of the slot being slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the threaded portion of said screw. The undersurface of the head of each screw 48 abuts the outer surface of the side wall adjacent the slot.

Adjacent the front edge 44 of the sight and on its vertical centerline a hole is provided in top wall 41 through which passes a bolt 49. A nut 50 is threaded onto the bolt on the bottom side of top wall 41 and another nut 51 is threaded onto the bolt on the top side of said wall.

The modification of the sight shown in Figures and 6 is secured in place on shotgun 52 of the pump type by tapping two shallow holes into the receiver 53 of the gun on each side thereof to receive the threaded ends of machine screws 46 and 48. Next the sight is placed on top of the receiver, the holes in the side walls of the sight are lined up with the tapped holes and the machine screws 46 and 48 are threaded into place. As so disposed the top wall 41 of the sight is inclined toward the front of the gun. By slightly loosening machine screws 46 and 48 and making appropriate adjustment in the length of the portion of bolt 49 extending beneath top wall 41, the sight may be pivoted around machine screw 46 through the limited are provided by slot 47 to vary slightly the downward inclination of top wall 41 of the sight toward the front of the gun and thus the size of the open space or sight field formed between the forward edge of the top wall of the sight and the top of the receiver.

In Figures 7 and 8 there is shown an embodiment of the sight adapted for use on a double barreled shotgun. This sight 60 comprises a top wall 61 and side walls 62 depending downwardly from the top wall. The bottom portions 63 of the side walls are so formed as to fit the contour of the lower outside quadrant of each barrel of a double barreled shotgun and each bottom portion is of such length as to extend substantially to the centerline of the barrel it engages. Rear edge 64 of each side wall is longer than the front edge 65 thereof, top wall 61 sloping downwardly from its juncture with rear edge 64 to its juncture with front edge 65 in such a manner that the vertical distance between the lower edge 66 of the side walls 62 and the top wall 61 is greater at the rear than at the front of the sight.

A hole is provided in the top wall 61 of the sight 60 on the vertical centerline and adjacent the front edge thereof. A bolt 67 passes through a nut 68 on the upper side of top wall 61, through the hole in said top wall and through a nut 69 on the bottom side of the top wall.

The embodiment of my sight 60 shown in Figures 7 and 8 is held in place on the double barreled shotgun 90 by the gun forearm 91 which is removed, the sight slipped over and down the barrels 92 to a position approximately as shown in Figure 7 after which the forearm is secured in place in the regular manner, the sight being held firmly in position by pressure exerted on bottom portions 63 between the barrels 92 and the upper side of forearm 91. As so disposed, the top wall of the sight is inclined toward the front of the gun in such a manner that the vertical distance between the top of the gun and the top 4 1 wall of the sight is greater at the rear than at the front of the sight.

Figures 9 and 10 show a still further modified form of the sight for use on a shotgun of the double barreled type. This sight 70 has a top wall 71 and depending downwardly therefrom side walls 72, the lower portions 73 of which are so formed as to fit the contour of a section of the upper outer quadrants of each of the barrels of a double barreled shotgun and a section of the lower outer quadrants of said barrels adjoining but not overlying the gun forearm. The spacing between lower portions 73 of the side walls is such that when the sight is placed on a gun, spring gripping action will be exerted on the gun barrels by said lower portions. On the inside surface of each of the side wall lower portions 73 and extending the length thereof there is provided a cushioning and anti-slip element 74 of rubber or like material. The top wall 71 of the sight is inclined at an angle to the lower portions 73 of the side walls in such a manner that the vertical distance between the top wall and said lower portions is greater at the rear than at the front of the sight.

A bolt 75 passes through a hole on the vertical centerline of top wall 71 of sight 70 and adjacent front edge 76 thereof. Nuts 77 and 78 are engaged by the bolt on the upper and lower side of the top wall, respectively.

To position the modification of the sight disclosed in Figures 9 and 10 in place on a shotgun the lower portions 73 of the side walls 72 are spread slightly and the sight slipped down over the gun barrels 101 adjacent the rear ends thereof. When the spreading force is released the lower portions 73 of the sight side walls clampingly engage sections of the upper and lower outer quadrants of the gun barrels. The cushioning and antislip element 74 between the lower portions 73 of the side walls and the gun barrels 101 assists in holding the sight securely in place against movement, particularly lengthwise of the barrels.

In operation, when a gun equipped with a sight of the present invention is lifted to the shoulder the large opening at the rear of the sight is presented to the eye. If the user has so positioned the gun as to establish a correct line of sight down and along the length of its barrel or barrels he will see through the small opening formed between the top of the gun and the front edges of the top and side walls of the sight. However, if the user has failed to properly position the gun, as frequently occurs, the inclined top wall of the sight obstructs his view until he drops the front end of the gun barrel to a point where he can see through the small opening formed between the top of the gun and the front edges of the top and side walls of the sight, thereby establishing a correct line of sight down and along the gun barrel. The necessity for establishing such a line of sight prevents misses caused by failure to properly bring the gun up with resultant sighting over the front end of the barrel, instead of down and along the barrel, causing the hunter to shoot high and over his target. Further, in using the sight of the present invention when the users line of vision is directed into the large opening at the rear of the sight his eye is instinctively attracted to the light at the opening formed by the field of sight between the top of the gun barrel and the forward edge of the sight, facilitating quick and automatic establishment of a correct line of sight clown and along the gun barrel to the target.

The portion of the bolt 20, 49, 67 or 75 in Figures 4, 6, 8 and 10, respectively, extending downwardly from the underside of the sight top wall to the top of the gun, serves as an aid in sighting on moving game that has been brought into the field of sight. On a straightaway shot the downwardly extending portion of the bolt is placed on the target. If the game is moving at an angle to the hunter, as contrasted to straightaway, by placing the game in the open portion of the sight field to the left of the downwardly extending portion of the bolt, space A in Figures 4, 6, 8 and 10, right lead is automatically provided; by placing the game in the open portion of the sight field to the right of the downwardly extending portion of the bolt, space B in said figures, left lead is automatically provided. Such lead has been found to be satisfactory in the majority of shots encountered in the field.

In addition to serving as an aid in sighting on game brought into the field of sight, the bolt 20 on the embodiment of the sight shown in Figures 1 to 4 is used in varying the distance between the front edge of the sight and the top of the gun, thereby changing the inclination of the sight top wall toward the front of the gun and slightly decreasing the field of sight as the portion of the bolt extending between the underside of top wall 11 and the top of the gun 30 is shortened or increasing the field of sight as the portion of the bolt extending between the top wall 11 and the top of the gun 30 is lengthened. Bolt 49 in the modification of the sight shown in Figures 5 and 6 is adjusted as the inclination of the top wall of the sight is increased or decreased, to maintain engagement between the lower end of the bolt and the top of the receiver. However, in the modifications of the sight shown in Figures 7 to for use on a double barreled shotgun, there is no provision for varying the inclination of the top wall of the sight and the bolt 67 (Figure 7) and (Figure 9) serves only as an aid in sighting.

While "but several embodiments of my invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the true scope'of my invention as defined by the claim appended hereto.

I claim:

A rear sight for a shotgun comprising a member having a top wall, opposed side walls depending downwardly from the top wall, said side walls being substantially parallel one to the other and means for supporting said member on a shotgun and extending longitudinally thereof with the forward edge of said top wall spaced above the level of the top of the barrel of the shotgun and with said top wall inclined toward the muzzle of the shotgun at an angle such that an extension of said top wall would intersect said barrel, and with said side walls extending downwardly on opposite sides of said barrel, said means comprising a U-shaped member extending between said side walls adjacent the rear edges thereof with its base a spaced distance below the rear edge of said top wall, and suction cups on said side walls.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 891,063 Harris June 16, 1os 2,127,173 Hunt Aug. 16, 1938 2,460,924 Dally Feb. 8, 1949 2,581,839 Douglas Jan. 8, 1952 2,584,777 Adolfson Feb. 5, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,838 Great Britain Aug. 17, 1915 

